NORTH LAS VEGAS, Nev. — Nelly Korda, the world’s top-ranked participant, will not be round this weekend to defend her T-Cellular Match Play championship.
She wanted to defeat Ariya Jutanugarn, however misplaced 1-up Friday on the ultimate day of round-robin play and did not qualify for the spherical of 16.
Korda’s struggles typified the week for the world’s high 10 gamers. Eight performed on this event at Shadow Creek, however solely second-ranked Jeeno Thitikul superior to the knockout stage. She is going to play Nataliya Guseva.
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“I do not suppose it is due to the highest gamers not taking part in nicely, however I feel as a result of it is not a matter of the rating right here,” Thitikul mentioned. “Possibly the highest gamers are taking part in nicely, however different gamers simply play a little bit higher, which is like maintain the win.”
The winners of the 16 teams in round-robin play certified for the start of elimination play Saturday morning. The quarterfinals will probably be within the afternoon, which is able to slender the sphere to 4 for Sunday for the semifinals and championship.
Korda appeared poised to place herself in that firm, taking the lead on the par-3 thirteenth regardless of lacking the inexperienced. She received up-and-down and Jutanugarn bogeyed.
The benefit did not final lengthy.
The roles reversed on the par-4 fifteenth when Jutanugarn received up and down with a 40-foot putt to inside two ft.
“That putt to me is kind of exhausting due to the slope and it is like downhill and it is slope left to proper fairly good,” mentioned Jutanugarn, who will face Narin An within the subsequent spherical. “I simply informed myself I simply must get the velocity proper, and that is all I concentrate on.”
Korda had an analogous shot, however delivered an overaggressive chip that went 5 previous the cup after which missed the comebacker. The match was tied, which was the equal of a loss for Korda.
Then it turned an outright loss when she missed one other brief putt on No. 16 and did not make up the distinction over the ultimate two holes.
Korda remains to be trying to find his first victory this season, fairly a distinction from a yr in the past when her victory within the Match Play was her fourth begin in a row with a win, the primary participant in 16 years to perform that. She prolonged the streak to 5 two weeks later at The Chevron Championship to tie the tour document.
Thitikul rolled into the elimination format, defeating Hye-Jin Choi 5 and three. Thitikul, who’s from Thailand, received all three round-robin matches. She is going to play Guseva, who superior out of the identical group with Rose Zhang, who has been battling a neck harm.
Zhang conceded her match to Meghan Khang a day after doing the identical with Albane Valenzuela with three holes left. The choice by Zhang, who lives in Las Vegas, to tug out wound up not affecting that group. Guseva would have superior anyway, securing the 1-up victory over Valenzuela by making a 55-foot putt on the 18th inexperienced.
“I knew that I wanted some magic, and that is after I holed that putt,” Guseva mentioned. “At that second I assumed that I’ll win this match. I used to be simply preventing till the top. I by no means gave up.”
Brooke Henderson received first two matches in routs after which superior when her third-round spherical opponent, Jin Younger Ko, conceded after 9 holes. Henderson, who was 2-up on the time, mentioned Ko didn’t really feel nicely.
Henderson, who together with Sei Younger Kim have been the one gamers who by no means trailed in a match, will face Maja Stark. Kim will go in opposition to Lauren Coughlin.
Rounding out the schedule are Stephanie Kyriacou in opposition to A Lim Kim, Mao Saigo in opposition to Angel Yin, Carlota Ciganda in opposition to Madelene Sagstrom ,and Ashleigh Buhai in opposition to Celine Boutier.
